Oklahoma 2012 Civic Health Index Released

Together with our partners at the University of Central Oklahoma, NCoC released the 2012 Oklahoma Civic Health Index at the Oklahoma State Capitol on December 4. Secretary of State Glenn Coffee accepted the report on behalf of the state.

The report finds that the state thrives in areas such as volunteerism and families sharing meals, but has room for growth in other areas including voting and political participation. The report focuses on the critical importance of civic skills and voter education, and the research team now plans to use an infographic on the findings as an educational tool for schools and libraries across the state.

The Oklahoma Civic Health Index is produced in partnership with the University of Central Oklahoma, Oklahoma Campus Compact, the Kerr Foundation, Inc., and the Walton Family Foundation.

Faculty Advisor for Student Org

Susan Scott, Ed.D., Professor of Professional Teacher Education

Phone: 405.974.5425

Email: scott@uco.edu

Office: Center For Transformative Learning, RM 209

Dr. Scott is a professor in the College of Education and teaches the first and last courses teacher candidates must take to receive their degree. Her professional interests are in teacher preparation and service learning. She is the student sponsor for the American Democracy Project and Students of Oklahoma Education Association. She currently is involved in a grant through the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education that works to help students in middle school understand what it takes to go to college and a minority teacher recruitment initiative for high school students.

Assistant Director

Dr. Mary Carver is an Assistant Professor and the Assistant Chair of Mass Communication. She is a native of Iowa, where she received her B.A. in Speech Communication form Iowa State University. She holds a M.S. in Communication from Wichita State University and a Ph. D. in Communication Studies from the University of Kansas. Prior to coming to UCO Dr. Carver taught at University of Northern Illinois and Wheaton College.

Dr. Carver’s research interests focus on women’s rhetoric, with a top paper award in the public address division at the 2005 National Communication Association Convention for “The Power of the Prophetic Persona for Abolitionist Feminist Lucy Stone” and a published article on letters to the editor of the Woman’s Journal in Spring 2008 Journalism History. She presents research at such academic conferences as the National Communication Association, Central States Communication Association, and the Oklahoma Speech and Theater Association

Beyond the Department of Mass Communication, Dr. Carver also teaches courses in the Leadership Minor. She is currently the Assistant Director of the American Democracy Project on campus, which has allowed her to share some of UCO’s civic engagement projects with a national audience through the American Association of Colleges and Universities. In April 2013, she was honored by her department colleagues with a Faculty Merit Service Award and by the College of Liberal Arts with the Outstanding Service Award. Her professional experience includes two years as a training and development specialist and two years as a human resource manager.

ADP Director

Janelle Grellner, Ph.D., Professor of Psychology

Phone: 405.974.5466

Email: jgrellner@uco.edu

Office: Education Bldg, 307D

Janelle Grellner is a Professor of Psychology at the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) and the UCO Psychology Clinic Director. She completed her Ph.D. at the University of Oklahoma Counseling Psychology program and is a licensed psychologist. She is the assistant director of the American Democracy Program at UCO. She is also the faculty liaison to the UCO Volunteer and Service Learning Center. She was trained in Deliberative Polling as a research method and conducted a deliberative poll at UCO in 2009. She was part of the research team and co-author of Oklahoma's first Civic Health Index in 2010. Her primary responsibility at UCO is in training master's level counselors in the use of empirically validated treatments through didactic instruction and supervised counseling experiences in the clinic. She has training in psychological and cognitive assessment and treatment of rehabilitation issues such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, spinal cord injury, behavioral pain management, and other cognitive issues. She and her students developed a curriculum for UCO undergraduate groups which run each fall and spring that provide psycho-education and interpersonal skills training to enhance success both personally and professionally. She also has expertise in treating couples, children, and adults for issues ranging from communication problems to depression and anxiety. Her research interests include cognitive dysfunction related to mild traumatic brain injury and determinants of positive counseling outcomes.